Evaluating the Economic Impact of Climate Change in Pakistan: A Content Analysis of Global and National Climate Reports (2015–2020)

Abstract

Pakistan considered as most affected countries by the adverse consequences of climate change with significant implications for its economy. This study investigates the economic impact of climate change in Pakistan through a content analysis of global and national climate reports published between 2015 and 2020. The research aims to uncover how climate-induced economic challenges are represented, prioritized, and addressed within major climate documents produced by international organizations (such as the IPCC, UNDP, World Bank etc) and Pakistani institutions (including the Ministry of Climate Change and national planning bodies).

Through a systematic coding and thematic analysis approach, the study identifies key economic concerns such as loss and damage, productivity decline, rising public expenditure on disaster management, and the vulnerability of critical sectors like agriculture, water, and energy. The results indicate an increasing convergence between global and national narratives emphasizing climate change as an economic crisis rather than solely an environmental issue. This research provides valuable insights into the discursive evolution of climate policy and economic framing, offering recommendations for more integrated and proactive economic adaptation strategies in Pakistan.

Keywords: Climate change, economic vulnerability, Pakistan, content analysis, national policy, global discourse, adaptation strategies